Issue 22 Apple Valley News

Issue 22: 2006

Contents

Fires Spread Across the Hood

Hood Council Changes

New Welcome Center

New School Opens

Announcements

Advertisements

Fires Spread Across Hood

Jadhira Shazad

At the end of the simyear, the hood was shocked to find that overnight two buildings had burned to the ground.

At 10:37 pm, firefighters were called to the Kent residence where they discovered the house engulfed in flames. Thankfully the family managed to escape in time, but everything was destroyed.

"It's a shame," Ayanna Kent said. "To lose everything in the span of a few hours is devastating. Nothing could be saved, the only things that we still have are our pajamas."

At 11:58 pm, firefighters were again called out to the 18th block in the metro where a large commerical building was also ablaze.

"Everything was loss due to either fire or smoke damage. It's a shame, I really liked bowling here." One firefighter said at the scene.

According to Detective Tobi Sweeny, following an investigation it was determined that both fires are unrelated due to faulty wiring in the Kent case and a freak lightening strike in the metro case.

Hood Council Changes

Jadhira Shazad

This simyear residents were greeted with the news that the hood council was changing. Financial Director, Rebecca Wilsonoff has stepped down. S'Ahmisa Warwick will be serving as Interium Financial Director until the next election. S'Ahmisa brings past experience as an intern for Mayor Cunningham of Simmington Hills and has assured residents that she has considerable experience with finances as evident by her past successful business ventures.

New Welcome Center

Jadhira Shazad

Residents and visitors to Apple Valley can now experience a new virtual welcome center. Located in the sidebar, the welcome center provides an easy way for visitors to determine how they want to explore.

"This is the first step in bringing more information over to blogspot," Archives/Technology Director, Jadhira Shazad said. "Eventually we'd want more real estate, public pages, and employment information on blogspot for residents and visitors alike."

The director also mentioned that other changes are expected, such as updates posted twice a week and that residents can expect to have thier DNA collected this upcoming simyear.

New School Opens

Jadhira Shazad

Residents can now see much of their tax money going to good use. A brand new school was opened and it has plenty of room for future additions.

"The new school will help us meet the need of the increasing population," Education Director, Johan Shazad, explained. "With the new school and additional room, we can hire more teachers to serve the community."

Already in the works are adding a state-of-the-art science lab, updated computers and healthier cafeteria food options.

Culinary Corner

Jolie Dawson

Welcome to Culinary Corner! This simday's topic is all about tasty fresh produce. Most sims already notice that food cooked with fresh produce tends to have a different look about it, almost like it sparkles in comparision to food cooked from processed grocery items. But did you know that food cooked from fresh produce fills you up faster and enables you to eat less?
Happy Eating!

Announcements

BIRTHS

•Lesia McMillian, to Bradford and Suzanna McMillian

•Christopher Smith, to Tobi Sweeny and Cameron Smith

•Oliva Humphrey, to Faith Humphrey and Walt Jones
•Jacob Carr, to Bill and Emma Carr
•Richmond Grey, to Grex and Ginger Grey

ADOPTIONS

•none

DIVORCES & SEPERATIONS

•Cameron Smith & Tobi Sweeny

DEATHS

•none

BIRTHDAYS

•none

GRADUATIONS

•none

ENGAGEMENTS

•none

WEDDINGS

•Emma King & Bill Carr

EMMIGRATION

•none

IMMIGRATION

•Ray and Lydia Wilsonoff, along with daughter, Alia Shae, have moved to Apple Valley from Simmington Hills. Ray was a chef and owned Saint Rose Bakery, Lydia was on the fast track to adventure.

EMPLOYMENT CHANGES

•Jasmine Frankson, Grades K-2 Teacher at Apple Valley Academy

•Johan Shazad, Principal at Apple Valley Academy
•Cameron Smith, webmaster with AV Technical Services

Advertisements

PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES
Looking for a photographer of your special event?

Package includes all day photography service, you order your own prints and albums.

§500

Contact Antonio Herendez

PERSONAL TRAINING
Need to lose those extra pounds? Want a leaner, fitter body? I can help you with a personalized fitness program.
Contact Jorge Dawson

Morning Rounds, 2006

Peacar, winter, 2006

"Ugh...where am I?" Rebecca asked as she looked around.



On every side she was surrounded by thousands and thousands of stars. It was almost as if she were floating in the middle of the universe...or in the middle of the twins' favorite sci-fi children's show.



"Great, all I need now is either a wizard or a genie to complete the picture."

"You rang, my lady."



"Give me a break," Rebecca moaned and rolled her eyes. "Where's the exit to this place, this is ridiculous."

"I am the all powerful shazam! I am here to-"



"Yea, yea, I know. I get three wishes, right?"



"Um, actually no. In this economy we've had to make a few cutbacks and wishes were first on the list. You only get one wish, so chose wisely."



"One wish?"



"Yes, one wish. What would you like."



"I don't know. I mean...I'm content with life right now. Well, yea it sucks a little bit every now and then. Money is tight and I'm still struggling with my treatment, not to mention Ana Rayne's future surgeries and the twins are growing up so fast, they'll be in university soon. How are we going to pay for that? I can barely make it into the toy shoppe these days and that's after I quit the council."



"Listen, I'm not a therapist. I'm a certified genie, graduated top of my class. I wish I could help you with those issues, but I can only grant wishes. Hey...maybe I could grant my own wish, wouldn't that be a hoot!"



"I know you're not a therapist, believe me you would suck at it. If my parents were still around, or even my Aunt Ayanna, then I could talk to them about the issues going on in my life."



"Why don't you?"



"Um...they're dead. Don't genies know it all?"



"Nope, that's wizards and some warlocks. I don't get constant news updates in my lamp. Do you know the last time I actually saw SimNation, it was-"



Rebecca gave him a look.



"Never mind. So they're dead, why don't you just wish for them to come back to life."



"You can do that? I thought you couldn't bring back the dead or make sims fall in love with each other."



"Oh, that's only the blue genies. They are an inferior species to us violet genies. We can grant wishes of wealth, beauty, and in some special circumstances...youth!"



"So...I could wish for my parents and aunt to come back to life?"



"You could in theory, but of course you'd have to wish for it to find out if it's a success."



"What do you mean if it's a success? You're a freaking genie, shouldn't everything be a success?"



"Hmmm, in theory, but as you know in practice theory doesn't always stand. I do believe that one of your own said that 'In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.'"



"Ugh...I could just choke you!"



"Hmm, never gotten that response before. Listen, lady, my soaps are about to come on and I can't miss Pahala Shore, so can you make a wish already."



"Fine! I wish that my parents and Aunt Ayanna were still alive!"



"As you wish," he said turning to enter his lamp.



"That's it? No hocus pocus?"

"That would be witches and yes that is it. Now if you'll excuse me, I hear the theme song for my soap. Goodbye!"



---

"What a strange dream," Rebecca groaned getting out of bed. She tiptoed downstairs quietly not to wake the children. Julio had already left to start his morning rounds as he was on call this simweek at the clinic.



"You're up early,"

"Dad! You scared me!" Rebecca hissed almost tripping over Ana Rayne's bunny. "What are you two doing up so early?"



"We went for a walk."

"At four in the morning?" Rebecca asked doubtfully.



"We wanted to revisit some of our favorite places," her mother explained.

"I hope you two didn't do anything that could get you arrested."



"It's only illegal if you get caught," Ajani teased his daughter.



"I don't think Aunt Ayanna would agree with you."

"I think she would, we have a little dirt on your cousins, so your aunt wouldn't dare chastise us." Rayne answered.

"You two are so silly," Rebecca grinned. "I love you."



"I love you, too."

Temperature Dropped, 2006

Peacar, winter, 2006

Johan is 45, Jadhira is 44, Myra and Naraj are 11, Udar is 2

Johan had finally finished his degree. He finished in record time thanks to lots of cramming and late night studying. In the end, it was the final papers he had to submit to journals that really killed him. Thankfully the papers and his thesis were behind him.

Obtaining his advanced degree had meant a lot of late nights which had meant a lot of nights tucking in his children after they have been sleep for hours.

Needless to say his intimate relationship with his wife suffered. Not for lack of trying on her part, but it seemed as if every time she approached him he was too tired or too stressed or too something.

"I'm tired of you pushing me away, Johan." Jadhira hissed as she jumped from the bed after another unsuccessful try.

"I'm tired, maybe tomorrow."

"That's what you said yesterday and the day before and last week! Do you know when the last time we woohoo'd?"

Johan tried to recall the date, "Last Monday?"

Jadhira rolled her eyes. "No, it's been six simweeks! Six freaking simweeks without woohoo!"

"Um...I'm sorry. It's been a stressful time."

"Whatever, I'm tired of your excuses. You're always tired or stressed or sleepy or sick or something!" she said grabbing her overcoat.

"Where are you going?"

"I need more batteries, unlike some sims I know, I do need regular orgasms."

---

Thankfully the twins and Udar were having a much easier life. Myra would indulge her mother who insisted on reading to her. Thankfully she convinced her that it was time to move from Choo Choo Chippy Train and to something a bit more age appropriate for a pre-teen, The Inside Story of Drag Racing.

Naraj was also enjoying his last few days as a pre-teen. He knew that he shouldn't enjoy playing with his toy cars and if the boys at school found out then he would be a dead sim and shunned at the lunch table. Hence the reason why he only played when he was sure that no one would walk in on him.

---

"I think you need to pack it tighter," Myra prompted.

Naraj nodded in agreement and added more snow to their creation.

"What are you two doing? Shouldn't your friends be here soon, you don't want to freeze before they arrive." Johan asked coming around to the back of the complex.

"We're working on a snow sculpture," Naraj explained. "Maybe we could submit it for art class and get an A."

"Maybe," Johan agreed. "Hey, who wants a quick swing?"

"I do!" Myra squealed dumping her handful of snow to jump into her father's arms.
Naraj watched in awe that Myra didn't promptly vomit afterwards. He could never tolerate being swung around very long and instead focused on his snowman.

"Hi Naraj! Hi Myra!"

"Dad, you can leave now." Myra reminded her father as more children began to arrive.

Jadhira and Johan had agreed to allow the twins to host a Christmas party. Thankfully the weather cooperated and delivered buckets of snow for the children to play in.

Myra, Naraj and their guests spent most of the afternoon having snowball fights,

giggling about entering secondary school next spring,

building snowmen and

just enjoying the cool weather.

Finally the children were called inside as the temperature dropped.

"So...uh...are you excited about going to secondary school next spring?" Abel asked.

"I am! Secondary school is where your life begins! You find out who you're going to marry and what you're going to be when you grow up. I can't wait!"

"I wish I was going too."

"You will, you have one more simyear and then you'll be in secondary school too. I'll still be in some of your classes though because of my...uh..."

"Your program?"

"Yea...I hate it, I don't like being different."

"It's ok. If you wasn't different, then you wouldn't be as special."

"You think I'm special?" Myra whispered.

"Yea...I think that you're-"

"Myra! You won't believe what Bryant said!" Grace Elise interrupted.

Abel watched as the cousins whispered

and giggled about whatever Bryant said to make his face go all splotchy and red.

"I think you're amazing," he whispered to himself.
---

• ROS: Johan fulfill biggest want
• For some reason Johan's ACR was reset and his One True Love was set to Julio Wilsonoff...um how about no. #1-Johan doesn't like men, #2-Those two have a polite working relationship, the most they do is wave at each other.

Painful Lack, 2006

Peacar, winter, 2006
Optional Soundtrack, Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone

Cameron washed her hands as she put the remains of dinner away. She could hear Tobi making his way downstairs after tucking the children into bed. The day had finally come, but it didn't make it any easier.

"Well?" she asked as he joined her on the couch.

"Why can't we just keep things like this?"

"You know I can't.I want more."

Tobi knew what she wanted from him, but he honestly couldn't give it to her. He tried to think of a reason why. Was he scarred from the divorce with Li? No, the divorce was amicable, some sims thought too amicable. Was it Ginger's rejection of his love? He knew that this wasn't it either. It had hurt, but he knew that they would have never worked. His parents still had a happy marriage that was an example to any young couple.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but quickly closed it again. There were no words to say. Every time he tried to think of his future with Cameron...he drew a blank. Other days Cameron's face would melt away and he would see Li. He wasn't having romantic feelings for his ex-wife, quite the contrary. He only wanted to chat with her or tell her about the funny joke he heard in the department meeting.

Maybe that should have told him more than the lack of marriage wants for Cameron. He didn't come home wanting to share his day with her or tickle her until she cried. Instead he wanted to share his day with Li, hear her laugh at their inside jokes or see if she could still beat him in red hands now that he had been practicing with Aaron.

Cameron sighed. His silence said it all.

"So this is where the road ends,"

"I guess so."

Cameron tried not to cry. She wanted to get married and have a family, she thought that Tobi would be the one she could settle down with. It had been two simyears, two precious little boys and not even a hint of an engagement ring, but plenty of hints that he was still not over his ex-wife. Even after the pregnancy scare a few simlonic months ago didn't spur him to do the right thing and marry her.

"We'll have to set-up child support payments," she said putting on her strong face. She had to be strong, it was now her and her two boys. Thankfully her new job allowed her to work from home, but she would have to get an apartment and start paying bills alone.

"Of course, we can visit the lawyers to get everything worked out." He wanted to ask her to stay, to let things remain the way that they were. However, he knew that it wouldn't work, that he would make her cry and that she would slowly start to drive him insane with her begging for a proposal. He loved her, he would always love her. He honestly loved her more than he loved Li...so why wasn't that enough to make him want to marry her? To give her his last name and stop playing at marriage, as she called it. He wished that he had an answer, but he felt like a jerk.

He couldn't give her what she needed and he didn't even have a good reason. There wasn't another woman whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, there wasn't any scars from past relationships, and there wasn't a fear of marriage. The only thing was a clear and painful lack. A lack of desire in making her his wife, a lack of communication, just a simple lack.

Cameron swallowed and moved away from the couch. The pain in the room was thick and heavy like the snow falling outside. She could hear the uncried tears, she could taste the hidden pain. Cameron pushed all those feelings away and turned the computer on. She spent the rest of the evening searching for cheap apartments and filling out rental applications.

The next morning, she received a phone call informing her that there was an available apartment and that she could move in within the week. The couple silently packed the few boxes that belonged to Cameron and the boys. Simora and Aaron watched quietly, not quite understanding everything they saw, but understanding enough to know that they would be seeing a lot less of their brothers.

Child support papers were filled, it wasn't much considering that Tobi was also a single parent with a small salary. Who was she kidding, it wasn't even enough to pay electricity even though it was a quarter of his salary. No wonder why those songs talked about it being cheaper to stay together.

With the help of Tobi and his friends, Cameron was able to get all the furniture set up in the tiny apartment before nightfall.

She had just finished feeding Christopher,

and reading Craig his bedtime story, before giving the young boy a bath when she heard the knock on the door.

She looked in the peephole, but didn't recognize the man. "It's Devin, from apartment 3C." The man yelled towards the door. "I just wanted to introduce myself."

Cameron opened the door cautiously, still on guard.

"Hi," he said a little too brightly for the late hour. "Just wanted to say welcome to the complex."

"Thanks."

"My name's Devin."

"Cameron"

"Well Cameron," he said giving her a bright smile. "I live across the hall, so if you need anything, let me know."

"Anything?" she asked as Craig crawled into the living room and flashed a toothy grin.

"Anything," he grinned.

"Do you have soap? I need to give my oldest a bath and I just discovered that I didn't pack soap."

Devin laughed before darting across the hall. He returned with an unopened packaged. "Hopefully this will work. It's formulated for sensitive skin, so it should work for a toddler right?"

"It should, thank you."

"No worries. You have a good night and welcome to the complex."

"Thank you, Devin."

"Come on stinky one," Cameron said scooping Craig up in her arms. "Time for a bath."